Fabric measuring device

ABSTRACT

A fabric measuring device adapted for use on a fabric supporting table; said device having a frame on which a first fabric engaging roller is rotatably mounted; said first fabric engaging roller coupled to a counting device for driving said counting device; a second fabric engaging roller rotatably mounted on a roller mounting means said rollers having rotary axis substantially parallel to each other; holding means tending to hold said roller mounting means in first and second positions wherein said rollers are drivably engaged at opposite sides of fabric or held in space to park position and drivably disengaged from said fabric; the roller mounting means having a first bearing axis portion pivotally mounted on said frame and a second bearing axis portion laterally offset from the first bearing axis portion; said second fabric engaging roller rotatably mounted about said second bearing axis portion.

United States Patent 1 91 Chick 1 Oct. 1, 1974 FABRIC MEASURING DEVICE[76] Inventor: Jon M. Chick, 412 W. Broadway,

Tempe, Ariz. 85282 [22] Filed: Aug. 20, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 390,018

[52] US. Cl. 33/134 R, 226/90, 226/187 [51] Int. Cl. ..G01b 3/12, GOlb5/04 [58] Field of Search 33/129, 132,133, 134 R, 33/141 R, 141 B;226/90, 187

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 619,726 2/1899 Darby 33/1291,204,511 11/1916 Smith et a1 33/129 1,534,336 4/1925 Vanderveld 33/1291,759,992 5/1930 McCarthy 33/129 Primary ExaminerLouis R. PrinceAssistant ExaminerCharles E. Phillips [57] ABSTRACT A fabric measuringdevice adapted for use on a fabric supporting table; said device havinga frame on which a first fabric engaging roller is rotatably mounted;said first fabric engaging roller coupled to a counting device fordriving said counting device; a second fabric engaging roller rotatablymounted on a roller mounting means said rollers having rotary axissubstantially parallel to each other; holding means tending to hold saidroller mounting means in first and second positions wherein said rollersare drivably engaged at opposite sides of fabric or held in space topark position and drivably disengaged from said fabric; the rollermounting means having a first bearing axis portion pivotally mounted onsaid frame and a second bearing axis portion laterally offset from thefirst bearing axis portion; said second fabric engaging roller rotatablymounted about said second bearing axis portion.

11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUOCT 112124 sum 1 or 3 HHHUI' FABRICMEASURING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various fabric measuringdevices have been used on fabric supporting tables especially inemporiums where fabric is sold by the yard and dispensed from largerolls of fabrics. The tables usually have a means-for holding a roll offabric such that the fabric may be pulled from the roll as it rotatesand the fabric is pulled across a table between fabric engaging rollerswhich are loaded toward each other such that one fabric engagingrollerforces the material to frictionallyengage the other fabric engagingroller and said other fabric engaging roller operates a counter whichregards the amount of fabric material which is pulled across the tablebetween the rollers. And accordingly this means of. measuring greatlyfacilitates and speeds up the removal of the fabric from the roll andinmeasurement thereof which is especially important in emporiums where thesale of. fabrics and similar materials is specialized in.

Prior art fabric measuring devices have been very expensive and quitecomplicated. Some of them have utilized parallelagram linkages forholdingthe respective fabric engaging rollers axially parallel andallowing one of the roller to move relative to the other one so that thefabric may be placed between the rollers and so that the rollers may beloaded toward each other in order to attain frictional engagement of thefabric on the rollers to operate a counting device in accordance withthe movement of the fabric between the rollers.

The expensive and complicated fabric measuring devices of the prior arthave been initially costly and subsequently relatively complicated tooperate and maintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a fabricmeasuring device of very simple mechanical arrangement which is veryreliable and economical to produce and maintain.

The fabric measuring device of the present invention is provided with aframe adapted to be supported on a fabric holding table and the framecarries a roller mounting means having laterally offset axes one ofwhich is pivotably mounted on the frame of the other which rotatablysupports a fabric engaging roller which cooperates with another fabricengaging roller held. by the frame with its periphery near the uppersurface of the fabric supporting table and the mentioned rollerrotatably operates a counting device. The simple roller mounting meansof the invention carries a fabric engaging roller and this mountingmeans is disposed to move in a direction to move said fabric engagingroller toward a counter driving fabric engaging roller by way ofseparesilient means, cam operated means or gravity operated means, andthe roller mounting means in the invention may be moved manually from anengaging position to a disengaged position by simply moving the rollermounting means upwardly away from the counter driving fabric engagingroller, and when the roller mounting means is moved upwardly it ispassed to a position in which it is held automatically in elevatedposition until it is again needed whereupon it may be moved downwardlyinto engagement with fabric overlying the fabric engaging roller whichdrives the counter of the invention. The invention comprising the simplefabric engaging roller mounting means having offset 'axes for mountingthe mounting means and the fabric enging roller provides a mechanismwhich may be economically reproduced and maintained and a mechanismwhich is very reliable and simple to operate, and one which is capableof affording great convenience to the operator since the movable fabricengaging roller moves upward out of the way of fabric being placed overthe periphery of the counter driving fabric engaging roller.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a verysimple, economical and reliable fabric measuring device for use onfabric supporting tables, especially in emporiums where fabric is soldby the yard.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel fabric measuringdevice having a novel roller rriounting means provided with offset axes,one of which provides for pivotal mounting of the roller mounting meanson the frame of the invention and the other of which provides for arotary axis for a fabric engaging roller which is movable toward andaway from another fabric engaging roller operating a rotatablecounterwhich measures the yardage of the fabric which is pulled between the tworollers when in engaged position.

Another object of the invention is to provide very simple holding meansfor holding one fabric engaging roller of the invention in engagementwith the counter operating fabric engaging roller.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple holding means forholding the movable fabric engaging roller of the invention in anengaged position or a disengaged position either by way of a simple overcenter spring or a simple spring loaded cam mechanism or a simplegravity operated weight means which may provide for adjustable tensionof the fabric engaging roller which is movably engagable with thecounter driving fabric engaging roller.

Another object of the invention is to provide various means foradjusting the holding force of the movable fabric engaging rollerrelative to the counter driving fabric engaging roller of the invention.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from thefollowing specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 'FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thefabric measuring device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section view taken from the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded view of the mechanism of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken from the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modification of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken from the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is another view similar to FIGS. 2 and 5 but showing a furthermodification of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 8-8 of FIG.7; and

FIG. 9 is a top or plan view of the roller mounting means of theinvention showing a modification thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, the fabric measuring appartus of the invention is providedwith a frame plate having an upper surface 22 and a lower surface 24 andhaving beveled edges 26 which are beveled from the upper surface 22 tothe upper surface 24 so as to provide for smooth passage of fabric fromthe upper surface of a table top 28 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawingsover the frame plate 20.

The frame plate 20 at its beveled edges 26 is provided with steppedportions 30 adapted to overly the upper surface 28 of a table top asshown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and the stepped portions 30 are adaptedto be fitted into an opening 32 of a table top 34 as shown in FIG. 2 ofthe drawings. The frame plate 20 at its lower surface 24 is providedwith projecting bosses 36 to which clamp plates 38 are secured by meansof screws 40 which are screw threaded in the bosses 36. The clamp plates38 being adapted to engage the lower surface 42 of the table top 34 forholding the frame plate 20 securely against the upper surface 24 of thetable top 34 and for holding the stepped portions 30 of the frame plate20 in juxtaposition in the opening 32 of the table top 34.

The frame plate 20 at its lower surface 24 is provided with projectingbearing portions 44 and 46 in which a counter drive shaft 48 isjournaled. Mounted on the shaft 48 is a first fabric engaging roller 50adding its peripheral portion 52 projecting through a slided portion54in the frame plate 22 and such that the periphery 52 projects abovethe upper surface 22 of the frame plate 20 all shown best in- FIGS. 2and 4 of the drawings.

The drive shaft 48 is provided with a coupling 56 which connects asecond portion 58 of the drive shaft 48 with a counting device 60 whichis a conventional counting device having a digital display 62 adapted toindicate measurements in yards. This display portion 62 of the counter60 is viewable from the upper side of the frame plate 20.

The frame plate 20 is provided with a pair of up wardly extendingbearing mount portions 64 and 66 as shown best in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 ofthe drawings. Pivotably mounted in these bearing portions 64 and 66 is aroller mounting means 68 having a bearing axis portion 70 pivotablymounted in the bearing portion 64 and 66 of the frame plate 20. Thisroller mounting means 68 is also provided with a bearing axis portion 71on which a second fabric engaging roller 72 is rotatably mounted.

The bearing axis portion 70 of the roller mounting means 68 is generallyparallel with the axis of the shaft 48 and the bearing axis portion 71of the roller mounting means 68 is so disposed that it holds theperiphery of the fabric engaging roller 72 against the periphery 52 ofthe fabric engaging roller 50 when in the position shown in FIG. 1 ofthe drawings. The roller mounting means 68 is provided with an offsetportion 77 between the bearing axis portion 70 and the bearing axisportion 71 and this offset portion 74 is relatively closer to thebearing axis portion 70 than it is to the bearing axis portion 71 sothat when the roller mounting means 68 and the fabric engaging roller 72are in the broken line'position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, theroller mounting means 68 as well as the roller 72 are well above theupper surface 22 of the frame plate 20 so as to provide operatingclearance for the placement of fabric over the periphery 52 of theroller 50 so that it may be engaged by the periphery of the roller 72 aswill be hereafter described in detail.

Mounted on the bearing axis portion of the roller mounting means is aclevis 74 having a clevis pin 76 pivotally mounting one end 78 of aspring guide shaft 80 which is surrounded by a compression spring 82such that one end 84 thereof is abutted to the clevis 74 and theopposite end 86 of the spring 80 isabijtted to an upstanding rod guide88 which is integral with the upper surface 22 of the frame plate 20.This rod guide 88 has an opening therethrough, this opening beingdesignated 90 and the spring guide rod-is slidably extendable andretractable therethrough and secured to the guide rod 80 is a nut 92which is maintainedin slight spaced relation with the guide'88 so as topermit the compression spring to exert force of the clevis 74 and toforce the roller mounting means into theposition as shown in FIG. 2 bysolid lines such that the periphery 73 of the roller 72 is compressabl'yengagable with fabric engaged over the periphery 52 of the roller 50' asshown best in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

In this position the fabric 75 may be pulled across the table top 28generally in the direction 'of arrow A in FIG. 2 of the drawings whichfrictionally causes the roller 50 to be rotated by rotating the shaft 48together with'the shaft 58 and operating the counter 60 to pro videadigital indication on the display 62 as to the number of yards that hasbeen pulled between the fabric engaging rollers 50 and 72. It will beunderstood that compression of the spring 82 provides sufficient holddown force for the fabric engaging roller 72 so that it firmly holds thefabric 75 in frictional engagement with the periphery 52 of the roller50. This roller 50 at its peripheral surface 52 may be serrated or mayhave a high coefficient of friction material on the surface thereof, andthe roller 72 may be provided with a resilient tire 94 as shown best inFIG. 3 of the drawings. The roiler mounting means 68 is provided with apair of snap rings 96 and'98 as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, andthese snap rings are disposed adjacent the bearing portions 64 and 66 ofthe frame 20 for limiting end play of the bearing axis portion 70 of theroller mounting means 68.

As shown in FIG. 3 the clevis 74 is provided with a set screw 100, screwthreaded therein and engagable with the bearing axis portion 70 of theroller mounting means 68 to secure theclevis 74 thereon. Also shown inFIG. 3 the clevis 74 is bifurcated and provided with a pair of arms 102and 104 between which the clevis pin 76 of the spring guard shaft ispivotably mounted. It being noted that the clevis 74 is provided withopenings and opposite ends of the clevis pin are pivoted in theopenings; the arms 102 and 104 being deflectable and compressable overthe end 76 during assembly. I

In operation the spring 82 acts over center of the bearing axis portion70 tending to hold the fabric engaging roller 72 downward in engagementwith the periphery of the fabric engaging roller 50 and when the fabricengaging roller 72 together with the roller mounting means 68 movesupwardly to the broken line positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of thedrawings, the spring 82 acts over center relative to the bearing axisportion 70 to hold the roller 72 and roller mounting means 68 in thebroken line positionspaced above the upper surface of the frame plateand the upper surface 28 of the table 34. It being noted that the clevis74 as shown best in FIG. 2 of the drawings pivots to over centerpositions at opposite sides of the bearing axis portion for alternatelyholding the fabric engaging roller 72 either engaged or disengagedrelative to the fabric engaging roller 50.

In the modification as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, theroller mounting means 68 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-4 of thedrawings and secured to the bearing axis portion 70 is a cam 106 havinga pair of fiat portions 108 and 110 engaged by a plunger 112 having acompression spring 114 tending to force the plunger 112 against the camsurface 110 or 108, depending upon the disposition of the rollermounting means 68.

The spring 114 is adjustably compressed by a screw threaded plug 116screw threaded in a ball 118 of the frame plate 20 between bearingportions 120 and 122 similar to the herein before described bearingportions 64 and 66 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. A set screw 124holds the cam 106 securely fixed on the bearing axis portion 70 of theroller mounting means 68.

When the roller mounting means 68. is forced upward to a broken lineposition 126 the flat portion 108 of the cam 106 is engaged by theplunger 112and thus'the roller mounting means is held upward in thebroken line position 126. Conversely, when the fiat portion 110 of thecam 106 is engaged with the plunger 112, a corner portion 128 of the camis engaged by the plunger 112 and thus tends to act over center abovethe shaft 78 transmitting the force of the spring 1 14 to hold thefabric engaging roller 72 downward against the fabric engaging roller50. The spring 114 and plunger 112 are movably mounted in the ball 118and the screw threaded plug 116 is provided with a serratedperipheralportion 130 manually engagable to screw threadably adjust the plug 116in the screw threaded ball 118 and to thereby adjust the compression ofthe spring 1 14 to adjust the tension of the fabric engaging roller 72relative to the fabric engaging roller 50. In the modification as shownin FIG. 7 of the drawings, the roller mounting means 68 is similar tothat shown in FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, and secured to its bearing axisportion 70 is a stop member 132 adapted to engage a stop portion 134 ona bearing portion 136 which is similar to the bearing portion 66hereinbefore described. This stop portion 134 limits the movement of theroller mounting means to a broken line position shown best in FIG. 7 ofthe drawings and secured to the fabric engaging roller 72 is a discweight 140 which gravitationally acts to hold the fabric engaging roller72 downward against the fabric engaging roller 50 or to hold the fabricengaging roller as well as the roller mounting means 68 in the brokenline position 138. It being noted that the weight acts over center ofthe bearing axis portion 70.

In the modification as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, the bearing axisportion 70 of the roller mounting means 68 is mounted in a bearing 142similar to the bearings 66 and 64 herein before described and a weight144 is adjustably mounted on the offset portion 77 of the rollermounting means, this weight 144 being fixed thereon in various positionsby means of a set screw 146 and thus the weight 144 acts in a similarmanner to the weight 140 tending to hold the fabric engaging roller 72downward against the fabric engaging roller 50 in a manner similar tothat herein before described.

Secured to the bearing axis portion 70 of the roller mounting means 68as shown in FIG. 9 is a stop member 132 not shown, but similar to thatshown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 of the drawings.

The spring 82 as shown in FIG. 2 as well as the plunger 112 and spring114 and cam 108 shown in FIG. 5 and the weight means 140 and 144 shownin FIGS. 7 and 9 respectively, constitute holding means acting overcenter relative to the bearing axis portion 70 and are all equivalentdevices for alternately holding the fabric engaging roller 72 eitherengaged with the fabric engaging roller 50 or in an upward broken lineposition such as the position shown in FIG. 2 by broken lines or thepositions shown by 126 and 138 in broken lines in FIGS. 5 and 7 of thedrawings.

The same position also applies to the structure shown in FIG. 9 of thedrawings since it employs the stop means 132 and 134 shown in FIG. 7 ofthe drawings.

Accordingly, the invention is generic to these modifications when aroller mounting means such as the roller mounting means 68 is employed,and pivoted at its bearing axis means 70 on the frame and having itsbearing axis means 71 parallel thereto and laterally offset therefrom soas to carry the fabric engaging roller 72 into and out of engagementwith the periphery of the roller 50 and so as to hold it axiallyparallel therewith for frictionally engaging fabric between the rollersso that roller 50 will be properly and accurately rotatably driven tooperate the counter 60 and indicate at its display 62 the exactyardageof material which is passed between the fabric engaging rollers 50 and72.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be resoted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. In a fabric measuring apparatus; a frame adapted to be secured to atable top; a counting device carried by said frame; a first fabricengaging roller having an axis of rotation and rotatably mounted inconnection with said frame; said first fabric engaging roller coupled tosaid counting device for rotatably driving said counting device; aroller mounting means pivotally mounted on said frame and having a firstbearing axis portion; said roller mounting means having a second bearingaxis portion laterally offset and parallel with said first bearing axisportion; a second fabric engaging roller rotatably mounted on saidsecond bearing axis portion; said first bearing axis portion beingdisposed to pivot said roller mounting means and said second bearingaxis portion thereof toward said first fabric engaging roller wherebysaid second fabric engaging roller may be brought into a first positionin which it is in contact with said first fabric engaging roller and inwhich position said second bearing axis portion of said roller mountingmeans is generally parallel with said axis of rotation of said firstfabric engaging roller; and holding means coupled to said rollermounting means and acting over center relative to said first bearingaxis portion alternately tending to hold said secondfabric engagingroller in said first position in engagement with said first fabricengaging roller and alternately tending to hold said second fabricengaging roller in a second position spaced from said first fabricengaging roller; the respective position depending on manual pivotalmovement of said roller mounting means from one of said positions to theother about the axis of said first bearing axis portion.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said frame is providedwith a normally horizontal plate portion adapted to rest upon the uppersurface of a fabric supporting table and adapted to overly an opening insaid table; said plate portion having an upper surface.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein: said first fabricengaging roller having a drive shaft coupled thereto; said drive shaftrotatably mounted on said frame below said plate; said first fabricengaging roller having a peripheral portion extending above said uppersurface of said plate portion, said plate portion is provided with aslot through which said peripheral portion of said first fabric engagingroller extends.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein: said drive shaft iscoupled to said counting device for driving the same.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein: said counting device isprovided with a digital display means visible from above said uppersurface of said plate portion.

6. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein: said plate portion isprovided with an end portion adapted to be mounted near an edge of afabric supporting table; said frame having bearing means disposed nearsaid end portion thereof; said first bearing axis portion of said rollermounting pivoted in said bearing means; said roller mounting meanshaving an offset portion disposed between said first and second bearingaxis portions.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein: said offset portionbeing disposed so as to provide manual operating clearance for placingfabric in a position to be engaged between said first and second fabricengaging rollers.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said holding meanshaving a resilient member acting over center about said first bearingaxis portion.

9. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said holding means isprovided with a spring loaded cam and plunger means operably coupled tosaid roller mountingmeans.

10. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said holding meanscomprising a gravity responsive means on said roller mounting means forholding it in said first position; and stop means on said frame forholding said roller mounting means in said second position.

1 l. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said roller mountingmeans having an arm portion between said first and second bearing axismeans; said holding means comprising a weight means adjustably mountedon said arm portion to adjust the position of said weight means forvarying the loading of said second fabric engaging roller toward saidfirst fabric engaging roller.

1. In a fabric measuring apparatus; a frame adapted to be secured to atable top; a counting device carried by said frame; a first fabricengaging roller having an axis of rotation and rotatably mounted inconnection with said frame; said first fabric engaging roller coupled tosaid counting device for rotatably driving said counting device; aroller mounting means pivotally mounted on said frame and having a firstbearing axis portion; said roller mounting means having a second bearingaxis portion laterally offset and parallel with said first bearing axisportion; a second fabric engaging roller rotatably mounted on saidsecond bearing axis portion; said first bearing axis portion beingdisposed to pivot said roller mounting means and said second bearingaxis portion thereof toward said first fabric engaging roller wherebysaid second fabric engaging roller may be brought into a first positionin which it is in contact with said first fabric engaging roller and inwhich position said second bearing axis portion of said roller mountingmeans is generally parallel with said axis of rotation of said firstfabric engaging roller; and holding means coupled to said rollermounting means and acting over center relative to said first bearingaxis portion alternately tending to hold said second fabric engagingroller in said first position in engagement with said first fabricengaging roller and alternately tending to hold said second fabricengaging roller in a second position spaced from said first fabricengaging roller; the respective position depending on manual pivotalmovement of said roller mounting means from one of said positions to theother about the axis of said first bearing axis portion.
 2. Theinvention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said frame is provided with anormally horizontal plate portion adapted to rest upon the upper surfaceof a fabric supporting table and adapted to overly an opening in saidtable; said plate portion having an upper surface.
 3. The invention asdefined in claim 2, wherein: said first fabric engaging roller having adrive shaft coupled thereto; said drive shaft rotatably mounted on saidframe below said plate; said first fabric engaging roller having aperipheral portion extending above said upper surface of said plateportion, said plate portion is provided with a slot through which saidperipheral portion of said first fabric engaging roller extends.
 4. Theinvention as defined in claim 3, wherein: said drive shaft is coupled tosaid counting device for driving the same.
 5. The invention as definedin claim 4, wherein: said counting device is provided with a digitaldisplay means visible from above said upper surface of said plateportion.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein: said plateportion is provided with an end portion adapted to be mounted near anedge of a fabric supporting table; said frame having bearing meansdisposed near said end portion thereof; said first bearing axis portionof said roller mounting pivoted in said bearing means; said rollermounting means having an offset portion disposed between said first andsecond bearing axis portions.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 6,wherein: said offset portion being disposed so as to provide manualoperating clearance for placing fabric in a position to be engagedbetween said first and second fabric engaging rollers.
 8. The inventionas defined in claim 1, wherein: said holding means having a resilientmember acting over center about said first bearing axis portion.
 9. Theinvention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said holding means is providedwith a spring loaded cam and plunger means operably coupled to saidroller mounting means.
 10. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:said holding means comprising a gravity responsive means on said rollermounting means for holding it in said first position; and stop means onsaid frame for holding said roller mounting means in said secondposition.
 11. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said rollermounting means having an arm portion between said fiRst and secondbearing axis means; said holding means comprising a weight meansadjustably mounted on said arm portion to adjust the position of saidweight means for varying the loading of said second fabric engagingroller toward said first fabric engaging roller.